How to Remove Caliper Paint

Calipers house the brake pads on your vehicle. They usually are on the tops of the rotors behind the wheels. To remove paint from calipers, you must remove the caliper from the rotor, the brake pads must be pulled from the caliper and the brake wire must be disconnected from the caliper. A fine-grit sandpaper will take care of most of the paint, but it's necessary to use a light chemical on the caliper to remove the paint that cannot be easily reached.

Instructions

1

Remove the lug nuts that secure the wheel to the frame of the vehicle, using the lug wrench. Raise that side of the vehicle off the ground, using the jack, and then lower the vehicle onto a jack stand. Pull the wheel off the frame and set the wheel aside while you work.

2

Loosen the retaining nuts on the rear top right and left side of the caliper, using the ratchet and socket. Loosen the nut that secured the brake line to the caliper, using the wrench. Pull the line from the caliper and lift up on the caliper to remove it from the rotor.

3

Pull the brake pads from the caliper, using your hand, and set the brake pads on a clean, dry surface. Using the 100-grit sandpaper, gently sand the caliper's surface. Sand the caliper until the paint comes off.

4

Wet the towel with a small amount of gasoline and apply the gasoline to any area painted area on the caliper that you can't use the sandpaper can't reach. Allow the gas to penetrate the paint and sand the caliper again.

5

Apply more gasoline to the painted area on the caliper and allow the gas to set and wet the paint. Keep sanding the painted area on the caliper until the paint has been removed. Wipe the caliper down and remove any debris from the caliper. Allow the gas on the caliper to evaporate before you reinstall the caliper to the top of the rotor.